Elder Scrolls Online clarifies DLC purchase confusion and ongoing DDOS attacks

Matt Firor from ZeniMax Online Studios has shared two important updates on the Elder Scrolls Online forum, one regarding the imminent DPC and another on the current state of the game’s tech.

Firstly, Firor has clarified that the Fallen Banners DLC dungeons arriving with U45 will indeed be purchasable with crowns, just like previous DLC.

He further explained, “2025 is a transition year between the old Chapter model and our new model for ESO, this year (2025) will experience aspects of Chapters and some of the new rhythms. In 2026, we’ll be completely adopting the new model, which will be discussed in more detail in April. Meanwhile, rest assured that you can buy the Update 45 dungeons using Crowns alongside other possibilities while also having access to them through ESO Plus membership. Due to this transition, Update 45 dungeons will be available for purchase in the Crown Store following Update 45 console launch.”

This implies potential changes in the future, but no specifics have been mentioned. As of now, those with subscriptions continue to enjoy free access to the DLC.

In the second part of the letter, Firor addressed continuing tech issues with the game, apologizing for their frequency and ZOS’s opaque communication approach. He admitted that while the studio has been handling server issues under their control, they have not dealt proactively enough with external network problems or DDOS attacks, confirming that there has been a recent surge in this problem.

“In recent times – especially in the past year, we have faced an increasing number of harmful network attacks on the ESO service. Mostly, these are DDOS attacks. Upon occurrence, we execute a mitigation strategy, the specifics of which I won’t go into. While these attacks happen, players experience lag, and disconnects. We have various modalities of mitigation to combat this. Some strategies are highly effective in protecting from DDOS traffic but can, unfortunately, introduce additional lag. Despite the evolving nature of these malicious network attacks, we’ll always strive to implement the best mitigation strategy to ensure least gameplay disturbance.”

In conclusion, Firor touched upon the reluctance to discuss DDOS attacks among internet companies because such discussion can invite further attacks. He explained, “Our delay in publicly addressing this issue is largely due to the increased likelihood of more attacks when we discuss them. This is the typical policy for internet companies – yet, we believe it’s information you need.”